How we doing? Are we stressed? Frazzled? Anxious? Depressed? A mix of all of these things? Totally normal. I'm not saying it's ideal, but you're not alone.
First: My ebook about how I earned $135,000 in one year of freelancing is $2 off with code VOTE.
Second: Freelance consults are moving along! I'm still working through the wait list, but if you would like to get on that list, reply to this email. As a reminder, they're $100 for one hour (we're out of the pilot phase now), and there are rules. Yes some people have broken these rules! Don't do that! I have no idea how long it'll take me to get to everyone. I open spots when I can.
And third: The reason I bring up the election is that I've been through enough in my years of freelancing to suspect that election week is going to be a tough one to work through. Not only will YOU feel something, but your editors probably will too. I'm arranging to turn in things the week before and the week after but not the week of. I've been bringing this up with editors too. They don't think it's weird I ask, because it's also on their minds.
I don't plan to work at all November 2 to 4, and realize that the rest of that week may be shot too. I voted in Florida in 2000 (I was a college student in Tampa), and remember that fallout. I was less politically connected then, but it was still a blanket over everything.
You may want to think about what your election week work plans are too, and give yourself a bit of space in case you won't be able to concentrate. On the flip side, I'm not going off grid because I think it's necessary to witness this, and I'm not putting up my out of office in case editors need quick turn around pieces related to whatever happens. Because you never know (which sums up…well everything).
As with all things, be kind to yourself. We're in for a bumpy ride.
(And did you vote already? I did! Vote)
Recent Bylines
"Robots Get Ready to Roam in Clinical Laboratories" for Clinical Laboratory News
"With Tech Budgets Clipped, CIOs Should Prepare to Cut – and Cut Again" for CIO Dive
"Why Zero-Based Category Management is Back in Style" for Supply Chain Dive
"CIOs are Preparing for the 'Next Normal'" for CIO Dive
What I'm Reading
- A Cup of Tea by Amy Ephron. A fable of sorts. Quick read.
- Carrie Fisher: A Life on the Edge by Sheila Weller. What a life she lead, set on an uphill before she was even born. I listened to this one. Great audiobook.
- Balancing ACT: The Authorized Biography of Angela Lansbury. This is one you absolutely need to take with a grain of salt because it was approved by her. I hope that one day she gets the full, big biography treatment where the author won't gloss over the tough bits (there's some sermonizing about bad environments and drug use that I guessed correctly was related to her children's drug problems). This was published in 1999. It's time.
- Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein. Amusing audiobook.
- If We Were Us by K.L. Walther. This YA book has both a queer and straight romance. Those story lines were great. I could have done without the rich prep school setting felt out of step with the time – not that they could have done anything about that.
- Fair Warning by Michael Connelly. After three+ years, I am finally caught up on all of Michael Connelly's works. Hooray!
- Agents of Shield. I watched all six seasons, in a row. This is a good treadmill show, not just because I watched it on the treadmill, but also because it's good but not…prestige TV. Seasons one and two are good, three and four are GREAT (I agree with EW about this episode, which was jaw dropping), five is OK, and six is just…odd. I haven't watched season seven year. I will when it's streaming.
- Spaceballs. Netflix lets you download some movies and shows to watch without Wi-Fi. So for when I was in Northern Maine, I downloaded three movies, including this one, which I hadn't seen in forever. It is so so good.
- Sleepless in Seattle. It is a perfect movie.
- Enola Holmes. It's fun and cheeky. But it didn't knock me out. Also, Henry Cavill as Sherlock is…a choice. Also there's a lawsuit over this movie for a reason that may surprise you.
- The Highwaymen. Pretty good and suspenseful. Great costumes.
- Ted Lasso. Is this cheesy? Yes. Is it realistic? Absolutely not. Did I love it? Of course. I'm glad I listened to the internet about this one.
- The Other One. This is a British show you can watch on AcornTV (thank you, pandemic gift to myself). It's delightful! As with Ted Lasso, the premise is a little hard to believe, but it works. Enjoyable.
Until Next Time!
Jen A. Miller
jenamiller.com
runninalovestory.com
twitter.com/byjenamiller
instagram.com/jenamillerrunner
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